Loose-leaf binder



Y l v'1,474,602

Nov. 20, 1923.

H. C. MILLER LoosE LEAF BINDER Filed Jan. 3

1 to permit the inneredges of the leavesto flex' Patented Nov. 20, 1923.

A py UNITED STATES PATENT .oi-Fleer HENRY o. MILLER, or MILWAKEEWISCO'NSIN'.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDIHELl Application mea January s, i921.` semi Noi 434,618.

scription, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, which specification. f i t Y,

Thisinvention relates to improvements in loose leaf binders. fr;

In loose leaf binders for-preserving docuare a part of this "mentary records which are recorded in ypublic offices, such as real estate conveyances, assignments, corporation articles, etc., ,the books are provided with a fixed number of leaves and a non-extensible cover' and binding posts which permit the removal or replacing of leaves at the front orbackportions of the book. In use the leaves arey removed from the frontportion ofthe book andV the records are copied thereon andthe filled leaves are then replaced serially in order in the back of the book.- Binding posts `used in binders `of this character are flexible in one plane only and are non-extensible soVV that in the event that. a less number of leaves A ,leaf binder with one of the covers'` in open are mounted inthe binder than the binder is adapted to hold, thev leavesare not clamped together with sutlicient pressure4 to hold the leaves firmly together, with the result'that the leaves work outwardly and tear at their points of engagement with Athe binding posts. v v y Theloose leaf system' is verydesirable in binders for the use mentioned` as they permit typewriting the records'onv thersheets, but as hereinbefore constructed,.it has the disadvantage as compared with books having-sewed bindings` that the leaves .will not open flat, and this not only makes the handling of the book more ldifficult in examining records, but a large amount ofsp'ace in the crotch or inside edges of the leaves is vlost, this space being variable; because itis deeper towards the center'- than towards the outside. Furthermore, the binding inloose y leaf binders is inflexible desirable.. f y c It is one of the object-s of the present invention to overcome the before mentioned objectionable features and-provide aloose and is otherwise unleaf binder having means forlyieldingly clamping the leaves in position in a manner inwardly and outwardly as the` binder is opened or closed. y

A further object of the invention `is to a provide a looseleaf binder which will hold a more or lessnumber of leaves firmly in position, and still permit the flexing ofthe back portion of the binder.

A further object of the invention to 4provide a fiexible post binder in which some of the posts are formed of coiled springs.

A further object of the invention is to rovide a loose leafbinder having means for ocking and unlocking the leaves. to. the

cover to permit the insertion or removal of leaves in a very simple manner.

A further object of the invention. is to provide a loose leaf binder which is of simple construction, is strong and durable and is well adapted for lthe purpose described.`

lVith the above andother objects in view, the invention consists of the improved loose leaf binder and its parts and combinations y as setforth in the claims, and alle quivalents thereof.

In the accompanyingr drawing in which the same reference characters indicate `v`the same parts in all-of the views:

Fig.1 is a top view -of the improved loose position 'and' i shown disconnected from the binding posts;

I*`ig. v2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line-2 2 of ltig. 1,with the cover shown inpclosed position; y

Fig. 3 is a' similarvviewtaken online 3-3 of Fig lfwith the covers shown in open A position; n y v Fig. 4 isal perspective view partly in section and on a arger. scale of one of the binding posts whichis flexible inone plane only; and

`Fig. 5 is alongitudinal sectional view of one of the binding posts which .is extensible l l and flexible `inlall planes,

`Referring to they drawing, the numerals 8 and 9 indicate the side pieces forming the cov- ,K

ers, 10 the flexible-back portion proper, 11 and 12 the binding posts and 13 the leaves of the improved binder. The posts 11 are flat and formed of articulated tubular members 14 which enclose aflat spring 15 backed on opposite sides by leatherstrips 16. Said spring and strips at their opposite ends are fastened to the eyed ends-.11 of the post 11 by rivets 17 to hold the curved end portions 11` of the v articulated members 111 together.A As the curved-portions 14 are formed on the side edges of the parts 14 the posts 11 can only flex or give sidewise. The inner edge por.- tions of the leaves are formed with elongated openings 18 through which the binding posts 11 extend and their opposite eyed ends 11 are pivotally entered by the pivot ton ues 19 ot' the slidable bolt bars 20 carrie by tubular guideways 21 which are mounted on the inner edge portions of the covers S and 9. Inner edge portions 21 of the guideway 21 are recessed to receive the eyed ends l1 of the posts 11. As both ends of the posts 11 are eyed and removably connected to the cover-portions, the leaves can be removed or replaced from either side of the binder. The said posts 11 also extend through angular clamping .strips 22 mounted on the leaves adjacent the guides 21. These strips 22 are held in clamping position by means of the extensible posts 12 before mentioned. -Each post 12 is formed of a closely wound coiled spring body part 23 having lplugs. or nutsv 24 securely mounted on itsl opposite ends which are provided with threaded openings 25 extending therethrough for receiving milled headed screws 26. The heads of the screws are milled so they can be turned easily with the lingers andare also of larger diameter than the openings 27 of the strips 22' in order to cause said screw heads to clampingly engage the strips' and the strips to clampingly engage the leaves.

As the spring posts 12 are of less length than the thickness of the number of leaves to be used in the binder, the springs are extend- "ed when the screws are threaded into the lugs, and even though a number of the eavesare removed, the posts will securely hold the remaining leaves in osition. As the spring posts 12 yield lateral y, the binder may be easily opened and the edges of the leaves will flex outwardly as shown in Fig. 3 without the loss of much space at the crotch of the opening.4 Furthermore, the combination of the two forms of binding posts provides for preventing the leaves from working out of alinement towards the upper or lower edges of the binder without intertering with the flexing of posts outwardly or inwardly. Another desirable feature of the combination is that lthe leaves may be unlocked and removed from the coverpor y tion of the' binder while the leaves are f dierent conditions.

clamped together by the spring posts.`

In use any number of theposts, and in any combination desired, may be used to meet What I claim as m invention is:

y 1. A loose leaf bin er, com rising covers` v and binding posts positioned between said' covers, one of said posts being laterally ilexiible in one plane only to maintain leaves mounted on the postsin alinedposition and another ost being laterally flexible and also 'extensib e.

5. A loose leaf binder, comprising covers,

andy binding posts positioned between said covers, one of said posts beingl laterallyV flexible only in the plane of movement of 'the covers` to open or closed position to maintain leaves mounted n the osts in alined position and another post being laterally iiexi'ble in the same plane and also extensible. l

-6. A loose leaf binder, comprising covers, and binding posts positioned between said covers, one of said posts being laterally flexible in one plane only and connected at oneend to one of the covers and'another postv being laterallyy iiexible in the same plane and extensible and free from connection .with the covers.

7. A loose leaf binder, comprising covers, leaves positioned between saidr covers and having rear edge portion perforations, and` covers and other of said posts being later` allyflexible in the saine plane and. clampingly engaging the leaves.

8. A loose leaf binder, comprising a backV portion having covers connected thereto, leaves positioned between saidcovers and having rea-r edge portion perforations, eyed binding posts extendingthrough some of said perforations and detachably connected at their eyed ends to the covers, said posts beinglaterally flexible in one plane only, and other posts extending through the other perforations and being laterally iiexible and longitudinally'. extensible to clampingly hold the' leaves together. v

. 9. A loose leaf binder, comprising a back ortion' having' covers connected thereto', eaves positioned between said covers and having rear edge portion perforatioiis, eyed binding posts extending through some of said perforations and,detachably connected at their eyed ends to-'the covers, said posts being laterally flexible in one plane only, other posts formed of coiled springs extending through the other lierforations, and threaded members threadedl into the end portions of the springs for releasably clamping the leaves together` 10. A loose leaf binderI` comprising a back portion having' covers connected thereto, leaves positioned between said covers and having rear edge portion perforations, articulated binding-posts flexible in one plane only extending through some ot said perforations and having eyed ends which are dei tachably connected to the covers to hold the the outer sides of the rear edge portions of leaves between the covers, other posts formed of coiled springs extending through the other perforations and having threaded end portions, clamping strips positioned on the outer leaves of the leaves between the covers, and screws'extending through the clamping strips and threaded into the threaded end portions of the-spring posts to yieldingly clamp the leaves together.

1l. A loose leaf binder, comprising covers, and bindingposts positioned between said covers, one of said posts being laterally flexible in' one plane only and another post being laterally flexible and yieldingly and adjustably extensible.

1Q. A loose leaf binder, comprising covers, leaves positioned between said covers and having rear edge portion perforations,

binding posts extending through said perforations, means for releasably securing the end portions of one of said posts to the covers, and means releasably engaging the opposite end portions of another post for vieldingly and clampingly engaging the leaves, said last mentioned. post being free from connection with the covers.

13. A loose leaf binder, comprising covers, leaves positioned between said Covers and having rear edge portion perforations, spiral spring binding posts extending through some of said perforations, means free from connection with the covers but engaging the opposite ends of the spring posts for yieldingly clamping the leaves together, other posts extending through other perforations and flexible in one plane only, and means releasably connecting the last mentioned posts to the covers.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

HENRY o.- MILLER;- 

